Hey Don, I thought your post was hilarious, and I'm really glad I'm not the only one who talks to myself!

So now that Thanksgiving is over, what Christmas traditions are you looking forward to?

BTW, Don, the Fourth of July is a LONG ways off![/quote]

I'm sure she will but it will be slow. It's been a long time since I felt totally well. I'm waiting on a disability pension which will help with costs but it's been 12 weeks and could be after New Year now before I get an answer according to the woman at the Centrelink office last week when I underwent an hour of questions and requestions. I almost went to sleep tallking to her.

RedBaron wrote:Tired of waiting on y'all to come out and play in the main area, so I'm going to start popping in more often. I miss talking to everyone, but I have no idea what's been going on, and I can't catch up on months of posts.

Main area??? Where is that?

Doncha know? The porch IS the main area!!! It's where all the fun and games are happening! Y'all come and join us. You wanna talk? We'll talk yer arm off.

We keep waiting for everyone to come to the porch to play, but nobody ever shows up. Most of us don't bite...very often.

I don't think anybody likes us.

Don

John 14:6Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."

RedBaron wrote:Tired of waiting on y'all to come out and play in the main area, so I'm going to start popping in more often. I miss talking to everyone, but I have no idea what's been going on, and I can't catch up on months of posts.

[b]Main area??? Where is that?

Doncha know? The porch IS the main area!!! It's where all the fun and games are happening! Y'all come and join us. You wanna talk? We'll talk yer arm off.

Have y'all had your traditional "after Thanksgiving turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce sandwich on either dark bread or a poppy seed roll yet? There's still time. I cheated and had 2. I guess I needed them since I lost 6 pounds and I don't know why. I used to worry about weighing too much and now I try everything I can to keep from losing more! Go figure.

I just ordered a new cookie press and cookie cutters. Our boys are in the cookie making frame of mind so I need to have everything ready. They only like chocolate chip cookies so I dont know how to manage this. Any ideas?

I painted a couple of cute eggs for my grands. I wish I could post pictures of them on here. I need some instructions that even a dummy like me can understand. Like in 2 steps.

Love you guys tons! Oh, I put a 3 ft lighted Christmas tree in my bedroom on the bedside stand and is it ever cozy and cute. I wish you could see it.

Bye for now!

Mariane Holbrook

"For you are dead to yourself and your life is hid with Christ in God."Colossians 3:3

Yesterday at church we had a Thanksgiving leftovers potluck. We used to have the potlucks monthly, on the first Sunday of the month, but in the latter part of the year people started forgetting, so now we have them quarterly. Last night I put my kitty Nativity scene on the top of my dresser, with a few items I include--a cut glass perfume bottle, a candle with candy canes in it, and on the wall above I put up some pins and an ornament from years past. When I start getting Christmas cards, they'll go on the wall as well. I bought the kitty Nativity scene years ago when I was in York, PA with mom. I went to a cat show at the York Fairgrounds, there a lady was selling it--the whole set for $65. She even threw in a tiny white Persian cat figure for free. The last time I was able to check the value, the angel figure alone was worth $65. That didn't include the cloud pillar she stands on. But earlier this year, I tried to check it out, and the company--Noah--no longer exists. There is another company of the same name that makes similar Nativity scenes, but when I asked, they said no, we're not the makers of your set; our company didn't exist when you bought it. Finally, I did a search for cat Nativity scenes, and a seller in Tennessee had one exactly like mine on Etsy. But it's been sold already. I wish I had a digital camera so I could take a picture of my set and share it with you all.

This morning's "email updates from Quotation Collection Daily Quotation" in my inbox, sounds like a good one for writers...

The most valuable of all talents is that of never using two words when one will do. -- Thomas Jefferson

...which also reminds me of my favorite journalism professor. He told us to "get rid of the adjectives and find the one best verb." That really does keep a reader moving vs getting bogged down in wrapping one's mind around a bunch of descriptive modifiers.

I've mentioned before that I have a lot of trees in my yard. There are at least 40 of them between my house and the lake. After the leaves drop in the fall, you can wade through at least an ankle deep layer of fallen leaves. Clean-up in the fall is a necessity, or the leaves will be a soggy mess to collect in the spring.

I did the fall clean-up myself for years, but in recent years I have always hired a crew to do the work. I have a contract for them to do the work. As of early last week, the crew had been a no-show. Since winter is on our door-step, I called late last week and read the riot act to them.

Guess who finally showed up this morning? Yep, a crew of five men toting some serious heavy duty equipment! It took the five men 2 1/2 hours to finish the job.

Two hours later a rain/snow mix began to fall with more predicted over the next 2-3 days. Then, zero degree temps are expected. Winter has arrived in our neck of the woods.

The clean-up crew cut it a little close this year.

Don

John 14:6Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."

I ran out in my Crocs, just as the big fat flakes began, for a trip to Daisy Nails to get a pedicure (before boots weather). Howard claims he could do my nails for me (he likes to make me think he's tight with his money ), but I told him I was sure he wouldn't want to polish them, too.

Somehow, I've developed an up-down double vision, plus being near-sighted, which makes it rather difficult to see to do a decent job on toenails!

I received this in my email box this morning from a techo friend. II thought you might like a giggle.

Subject: COMPUTER SKILLS

This ought to make you feel better about your computer skills!

Tech Support: What kind of computer do you have?Customer: A white one...

Tech Support: Click on the 'my computer' icon on to the left of the screen.Customer: Your left or my left?

Customer: Hi, good afternoon, this is Martha, I can't print. Every time I try, it says 'Can't find printer'. I've even lifted the printer and placed it in front of the monitor, but the computer still says he can't find it.

Customer: My keyboard is not working anymore.Tech Support: Are you sure it's plugged into the computer?Customer: I don't Know, I can't get behind the computer.Tech Support: Pick up your keyboard and walk 10 paces back. Customer: ! OK Tech Support: Did the keyboard come with you? Customer: Yes Tech Support: That means the keyboard is not plugged in.

Customer: I can't get on the Internet. Tech Support: Are you sure you used the right password?Customer: Yes, I'm sure. I saw my colleague do it. Tech Support: Can you tell me what the password was? Customer: Five dots.

Tech Support: What anti-virus program do you use?Customer: Netscape.Tech Support: That's not an anti-virus program.Customer: Oh, sorry... Internet Explorer.

Customer: I have a huge problem. A friend has placed a screen saver on my computer, but every time I move the mouse, it disappears.

Tech Support: How may I help you?Customer: I'm writing my first email. Tech Support: OK, and what seems to be the problem?Customer: Well, I have the letter 'a' in the address, but how do I get the little circle around it?

This one and the next are our personal favourites! ...

A woman customer called the Canon help desk with a problem with her printer. Tech Support: Are you running it under windows?Customer: 'No, my desk is next to the door, but that is a good point. The man sitting in the cubicle next to me is under a window, and his printer is working fine.'

And last but not least!

Tech Support: 'Okay Bob, let's press the control and escape keys at the same time. That brings up a task list in the middle of the screen. Now type the letter 'P' to bring up the Program Manager.'Customer: I don't have a P.Tech Support: On your keyboard, Bob.Customer: What do you mean? Tech Support: 'P'.....on your keyboard, Bob.Customer: I'M NOT GOING TO DO THAT!!!

Hey, guess what? My DIL-to-be said that if one of you would resend directions about how to post pictures on here that she would show me how! I"m so excited. Is there anyone who wouldn't mind posting it all again? (hiding my head in shame because I never could learn on my own)

Mariane Holbrook

"For you are dead to yourself and your life is hid with Christ in God."Colossians 3:3